Written by Matthieu Ricard, the hardcover 128 page guide book to the Himalayas titled Motionless Journey is a great look into a heritage and the very different lifestyle that is enjoyed by those who choose to live in the shelter of the Himalayan mountain ranges. Given the fact that Ricard has lived in the Himalaya’s for the past thirty years as a Buddhist monk he is able to offer a great point of view into the mountain range that is unrivalled or matched by scholars who simply have an outsider’s perspective of the area.
As both a Buddhist monk and a photographer, Ricard is able to offer a unique passage way through the hermitage that is located inside of the mountain range showing the true light of the Pema Asel Hermitage to those that could never experience the magic of the range on their own. The book features lush valleys, breath taking scenery, daily meditation, and the views that are supposed to help the monks find their way towards awakening. Throughout the photos of the book it is easy to see the many subtleties of dusk, light, and the evening night as Ricard spent his days contemplating the meaning of life and progress.
As he took his photos and chose to include one per each week of his stay Ricard is able to carefully preserve and showcase the changing landscape around him showing its progress along with the progress of the monk’s meditation. With a subtle peacefulness and calming affect hanging over the entire price of work, the landscapes allow those who have never seen a hermitage or the Himalayas a chance to indulge in the quiet beauty that makes up the range.